February 23, 2016

Impressions of Paris


Oh, Paris...

Nine months have elapsed since our spring weekend trip to your pretty boulevards and crowded metro stations, and I'm long overdue to share a few thoughts about our time wandering your arrondissements. There's so much I have to say about you, but a busy life and then senseless tragedies on your streets have prevented me from posting much beyond a few photo essays or mentioning you in passing.

Paris, you were... exactly what I expected and exactly what I didn't expect. I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of Notre Dame, giddy to pinch the Louvre's pyramid between my fingers, and awed by the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysee spilling down from it. Your buildings were bright even in the gloomy weather, and the green trees lining your streets lent an air of suburbia rather than the huge metropolis you are. The sun peeking through the clouds long enough to smile upon the cafe patrons on Montmartre and the blue skies framing Eiffel's Tower are mental postcards I'll carry for the rest of my life.

But I never caught the joie de vivre of which so many gush about finding on your streets or while walking along the Seine. I was nervous in your metro stations, harassed and chased by the street sellers at the Sacre Coeur, and experienced the stereotypical Parisian attitude from all but one Parisian restaurateur (who seemed to have been only a recent settler in the city). Perhaps it's not entirely your fault. After all, we were only there for a weekend, and I was struggling with the exhaustion and nausea of first trimester pregnancy. And beyond a few hours of breaking clouds, the weather left much to be desired, too.

So perhaps the second or third time will be the charm for me. I will definitely return someday to revisit your world-class sites, see those which I missed, and to try to catch some of that joie de vivre for myself, perhaps over a fine Parisian wine or while giving my taste buds an adventure of escargot, foie gras, or steak tartare. I'll return not naive to your problems, but cognizant and open-minded to see past them and hopefully improve upon my last experience.

Until then, I remain respectfully yours, etc.

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Have you ever had a return visit that improved upon your first impressions?

Stay tuned later this week for more Paris insights with a guest post from Christy of What Up, Swags?! and co-host of Travel Tuesday!






Linking up with Bonnie, Christy, Diana & Anna!

16 comments:

  1. I would be so sad if Paris disappointed me, because I think Americans have such a romanticized idea of it built up in their heads. I've heard several other friends say they weren't as impressed as they'd hoped to be, and I hate that because I want to experience it for myself! I guess the takeaway is just to take it for what it is and not to go in with too high of expectations.

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    1. Your takeaway is exactly right. :) I just keep reminding myself that in high school there was this girl that I didn't particularly care for. She ended up becoming my best friend and roommate in college. Maybe Paris will be like that for me. I just need to see it a few more times! Perfect excuse to travel! ;)

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  2. Beautiful post! I am a bit biased when it comes to Paris, so I'm always interested to read about others' first experiences there. Though I have to say, the first time I visited it far surpassed any expectations I had - and despite hearing about how rude the French are, I found it to be quite the opposite. I'm sorry that you didn't find that joie de vivre - next trip head away from the tourist sites and get into some residential neighborhoods :-) #TravelTuesday

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    1. I know what you mean about being biased! I feel the same way about other places. I tried to be honest in my post. Sometimes traveling takes us to places that don't give us that warm and fuzzy feeling. But that's ok! And I am definitely more than willing to give Paris a second and third chance. Someone I disliked in high school ended up becoming my best friend. Who's to say that can't happen with Paris? :) Thanks for your comment!

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  3. I love your post about Paris! I am so pining to go there, as I am obsessed with fashion and traveling! I definitely have visited places and liked it better the 2nd time . Your pics are fabulous!!

    Valerie

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    1. So there's hope for me yet! :) Since we've seen all the big sites (except the Louvre), I'm hopeful that the next trip will be more laid-back and get us away from the hordes of other tourists. I think I'll enjoy it more!

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  4. I guess sometimes we form an image of a place by taking bits and pieces from other who have been there. That image is not necessarily reflecting of reality. I think that is why I like to see places with my own eyes. Hope Paris is better next time.

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    1. Thank you! I think it will be. :) Since we've hit the big sites, we can focus on the actual soul of Paris on a return trip.

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  5. I'm sorry for all your bad experiences with Paris. We didn't have any of that during our week there. But - that's just all the more reasons to get back there and wash that negative impression off!

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    1. Absolutely! We'll be searching for the soul of Paris on our return trip. :)

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  6. Such a shame you didn't have the perfect Paris experience. I love the city but I've lived there and visited so many times that it's hard to think back to my first time. When travelling around, I most enjoyed walking around the city and taking the buses - it's a bit less big city busy than the metro. Hope next time is better for you.

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    1. I'm positive it will be, thank you! We'll make our return trip's goal to avoid as many other tourists as possible. :) We'll get a truer experience that way!

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  7. We both know you just need me around the next time you go to Paris! It's hard because the touristy/important sights are the ones that don't feel like "c'est la vie." It's the behind the scenes that really bring out the wonder and romance of the city. Next time...!!! :D

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    1. You know you're right! :) There were a lot of things I did like (I could've stared at the Arc de Triomphe for days!), and I know that we will return. Of course we had to hit all the big touristy sites, so next time we can hopefully see more of Paris' charms and less of other tourists!

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  8. Paris didn't wow me as much as I expected, but it was still pretty good. I think I need to see the behind the scenes paris that Christy mentioned next time I visit!

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  9. I also had bad experience when I first visited Paris. I guess my expectations were too high. The second time I expected to be worse but I actually enjoyed my time there.

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Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear your comments, feedback, and suggestions.